LISBON CÂMARA is to receive 812,000 euros in EU grants to put in cycling routes around the city.
The project, which falls within the government’s National Strategic Development Reference Plan (QREN), was announced last week by the Câmara’s Parks and Green Open Spaces Officer, José Sá Fernandes.
Unlike the popular perception that Lisbon is impossible to navigate by bike because of its hills, in fact only 15 per cent of the city’s total area is hilly, making most of Lisbon open to cyclists.
Work had begun on putting in cycle routes in 2000 but the Câmara’s financial problems then brought work to a standstill in 2004.
According to the municipal authority, the first cycle routes will be Buraca-Monsanto, Entrecampos-Avenida Gago Coutinho and Monsanto-Pontinha followed by further routes between Belém and Cais do Sodré, for which the authority has already signed a protocol with the Lisbon Port Authority.
Work on a cycle route next to Sporting Stadium at Alvalade is to now go ahead at a cost of 40,000 euros after grinding to a halt in 2004.
Work will also resume on a 5,100 metre cycle route from Entrecampos to Bela Vista Parque and Avenida de Roma.
Bicycle parks are also to be installed at Telheiras Central Metro Station and at the EMEL car park in Campo Grande and the Roma-Areeiro CP station at Areeiro.
